Troubled teens and shelter dogs are working together at Crossroads for Youth in Oxford to achieve a common goal ? a second chance in life.
It’s called Teacher’s Pet: Dogs and Kids Learning Together and what the nonprofit program does is pair at-risk youth with hard-to-adopt canines twice a week for a 10-week workshop in basic obedience.
‘Behavior problems are the second most common reason for surrendering an animal (to a shelter),? explained Amy Johnson, a 39-year-old Rochester Hills resident who created the Teacher’s Pet program in 2005 and brought it to Crossroads during her internship there last year.
Student trainers learn the basics of animal handling, responsible pet ownership, identifying the various ways dogs communicate and how to empathize with their canine companions? feelings.
They then move on to Basic Obedience 101 where the students teach the dogs commands such as sit, stay, down, leave it, drop it and how to walk on a leash. They also help the dogs improve their focus, socialization skills and impulse control.
?(The dogs) love working with the kids,? Johnson said. ‘Sitting in a kennel all day is very hard on them. They need at least 20 minutes a day of mental stimulation. That’s like a bare minimum. Dogs love to learn and they love to play.?
When they return to their kennels after sessions with their student trainers, the dogs are quieter and more relaxed.
‘They’re so much better behaved on all levels,? Johnson said.
As a result of this training, the odds of these shelter dogs finding a permanent home with a loving person or family are greatly improved.
‘It works wonders for the dogs,? Johnson said. ‘It makes them much more adoptable and much more likely to stay in their homes.?
To date, more than 100 dogs have been adopted thanks to Teacher’s Pet, according to Johnson.
Teacher’s Pet gets its dogs from the K9 Stray Rescue League in Oxford, Oakland Pet Adoption Center and the Macomb County Animal Shelter.
But the dogs aren’t the only ones benefiting from the program. Crossroads for Youth residents are learning a thing or two as well.
‘We see the kids become more relaxed, less angry. They love the program,? said Chris Veihl, director of clinical training and treatment at Crossroads. ‘All the things they’re teaching the dogs are really the same things they’re trying to learn ? how to control yourself, how to follow directions.?
Through training the dogs, the Crossroads? teens are learning to be considerate of others and their feelings.
‘Building empathy is one of the main components in working with our youth,? Veihl said. ‘Working with animals is a wonderful way to do that, especially with dogs.?
Veihl found it interesting that ‘the kids always tend to pick the dogs that have the same issues they have.?
For example, a hyperactive kid tends to pick a more energetic dog to train.
‘They don’t realize this at a conscious level,? Veihl noted.
Johnson was amazed to see kids, who appear to be tough and hardened on the outside, ‘talking baby talk to their dog.?
‘I’ve seen some of the hardest kids climb into the kennels with their dogs when we put them away because they want to stay with them longer or hug them longer,? she said.
Johnson believes it’s during those moments the students? true natures shine through.
‘It shows you they’re still little kids inside,? she said. ‘You’re able to see their innocence.?
Teacher’s Pet utilizes positive reinforcement training methods in which student trainers gives dogs rewards (or treats) for good behavior.
For kids who often come from backgrounds dominated by yelling or physical violence, Johnson said the training helps them ‘learn how to express themselves in a positive way instead of using coercive methods.?
At the end of the 10-week training a graduation ceremony is held, which entails each student giving a description of their dog.
‘What’s really powerful is they’re really describing a lot of themselves,? Veihl said.
The students then get to watch their dogs get adopted.
‘For a lot of our boys who struggle with attachment issues, that such a powerful thing — learning how to create that attachment and then being able to say goodbye, knowing that’s a natural part of relationships,? Veihl explained. ‘A lot of our kids have struggled with that.?
Veihl envisions the partnership between Crossroads and Teacher’s Pet continuing and expanding in the years to come.
‘We definitely see it growing in the future,? he said. ‘It’s definitely going to be a staple of our programming.?
For more information about Teacher’s Pet please visit www.teacherspetmichigan.org.
But the dogs aren’t the only ones benefiting from the program. The Crossroads for Youth residents are learning a thing or two as well.
‘We see the kids become more relaxed, less angry. They love the program,? said Chris Veihl, director of clinical training and treatment at Crossroads. ‘All the things they’re teaching the dogs are really the same things they’re trying to learn ? how to control yourself, how to follow directions.?
Through training the dogs, the Crossroads? teens are learning to be considerate of others and their feelings.
‘Building empathy is one of the main components in working with our youth,? Veihl said. ‘Working with animals is a wonderful way to do that, especially with dogs.?
Veihl found it interesting that ‘the kids always tend to pick the dogs that have the same issues they have.?
For example, a hyperactive kid tends to pick a more energetic dog to train.
‘They don’t realize this at a conscious level,? Veihl noted.
Johnson was amazed to see kids, who appear to be tough and hardened on the outside, ‘talking baby talk to their dog.?
‘I’ve seen some of the hardest kids climb into the kennels with their dogs when we put them away because they want to stay with them longer or hug them longer,? she said.
Johnson believes it’s during those moments that the students? true natures shine through.
‘It shows you they’re still little kids inside,? she said. ‘You’re able to see their innocence.?
Teacher’s Pet utilizes positive reinforcement training methods in which student trainers gives dogs rewards (or treats) for good behavior.
For kids who often come from backgrounds dominated by yelling or physical violence, Johnson said the training helps them ‘learn how to express themselves in a positive way instead of using coercive methods.?
At the end of the 10-week training a graduation ceremony is held, which entails each student giving a description of their dog.
‘What’s really powerful is they’re really describing a lot of themselves,? Veihl said.
The students then get to watch their dogs get adopted.
‘For a lot of our boys who struggle with attachment issues, that such a powerful thing — learning how to create that attachment and then being able to say goodbye, knowing that’s a natural part of relationships,? Veihl explained. ‘A lot of our kids they’ve struggled with that.?
Veihl envisions the partnership between Crossroads and Teacher’s Pet continuing and expanding.
‘We definitely see it growing in the future,? he said. ‘It’s definitely going to be a staple of our programming.?
For more information about Teacher’s Pet please visit www.teacherspetmichigan.org.